hock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal (pawn meaning); Technical/Specialist (animal anatomy, wine).
Quick answer
What does “hock” mean?
The joint in the hind leg of a four-legged animal, like a horse or dog, roughly equivalent to the human ankle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The joint in the hind leg of a four-legged animal, like a horse or dog, roughly equivalent to the human ankle; also, a cut of meat from this part of an animal, especially a pig.
1. To pawn or pledge something as security for a loan. 2. A type of German white wine from the Rhine region.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'pawn' meaning is common and informal in AmE. In BrE, 'pawn' is more standard; 'hock' (verb) is understood but less frequent.
Connotations
The 'pawn' sense is neutral-to-informal in AmE. In BrE, it can sound slightly dated or American-influenced.
Frequency
The 'pawn' meaning is moderately frequent in AmE but low-frequency in BrE.
Grammar
How to Use “hock” in a Sentence
[Sb] hock [sth] (to/at [a pawnshop])[Sth] is in hock (to [sb])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hock” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was so broke he considered hocking his late grandfather's watch.
- The family jewels were hocked during the recession.
American English
- I had to hock my TV to make bail.
- Don't hock your camera; you'll regret it later.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a standalone adverb.)
American English
- (Rarely used as a standalone adverb.)
adjective
British English
- He was left hock-deep in debt after the venture failed.
- The hock meat is perfect for slow-cooking.
American English
- They're in hock up to their eyeballs.
- A smoked hock adds great flavor to the soup.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The company was deeply in hock to its creditors."
Academic
"The study focused on osteoarthritis in the equine hock."
Everyday
"I had to hock my guitar to pay the rent."
Technical
"The veterinarian injected the corticosteroid directly into the tarsal (hock) joint."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hock”
- Incorrect: 'He hocked it for $100 to me.' (Correct: '...to a pawnshop' or '...from me' changes meaning).
- Incorrect: 'The dog hurt its front hock.' (Hock is specifically the hind leg joint).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's common and informal in American English. In British English, 'pawn' is the more standard term, though 'hock' is understood.
A ham is a larger cut from the pig's hind leg, often cured or roasted. A ham hock is the lower, jointed end of that leg, containing more bone, connective tissue, and skin, making it ideal for flavoring soups and stews.
Not in standard modern English. It is strictly used for quadruped animals. The human equivalent is the ankle joint.
It's a shortening of the obsolete English term 'Hockamore', an anglicisation of 'Hochheimer', meaning wine from Hochheim in the Rheingau region of Germany.
The joint in the hind leg of a four-legged animal, like a horse or dog, roughly equivalent to the human ankle.
Hock is usually informal (pawn meaning); technical/specialist (animal anatomy, wine). in register.
Hock: in British English it is pronounced /hɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in hock (to someone/something): deeply in debt or under obligation.”
- “hock shop: a pawnshop (AmE informal).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOCKey player twisting his ANKLE (the hock joint). He then has to HOCK his skates at a pawnshop to pay the medical bill.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE/OWNERSHIP AS PHYSICAL LOCATION ('in hock' = trapped in a place of debt).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'in hock to the banks' most accurately mean?